Offshore apparatus and method of installing same



2 Sheets=Sheet 1 'l Il M. H. PARKS Nov, 8, w@

OFFSHORE APPARATUS AND METHOD OF' INSTALLING SAME Filed Oct. 2l, 1957 v,Y. l S E mm M m M m vk V T Wdh... f. NH A .JN PS l R NBR om 52am Mw. R EO O. M l HU Wl. .WMU nlm N. w f Tf: 2

M. H. PARKS 95,@16

AND METHOD oF XNSTALLING SAME Nov. w60

RATUS OFFSHORE AFPA Filed Oct. 2l, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EEG.. 33.

NVENTOR.

MERCER H. PRKS,

ATTORNEY.

u w pli United States FatentO OFFSHORE APPARATUS AND METHOD F INSTALLINGSAME Mercer H. Parks, Houston, Tex., assignor, by mesme as signments, toJersey Production Research Company, Tulsa, Okla., a corporation ofDelaware Filed Oct. 21, 1957, Ser. No. 691,442

14 Claims. (Cl. 61-63) This invention concerns well drillinginstallations and particularly marine well drilling installations.

The invention is especially concerned with apparatus and method forsetting multiple self-supporting tubular members or pipes, which membersmay serve as surface casing strings for supporting drilling well headsor as support for a drilling platform for drilling and servicing wellsor as both casing strings and a drilling platform support.

Surface casing and platform legs are normally separate and-distinctpipes. Thus, this invention saves the expense of purchasing surfacecasing and obviates the effort of driving individually the surfacecasing for wells to be drilled. Also, in the template-type constructionthe platform legs are concentric pipes. This invention saves one set ofthe two concentric legs.

The invention, in brief, provides apparatus for setting a plurality ofspaced-apart, vertically extending tubular members which includes lowerclamping means adapted to grip the tubular members; driving meansadapted to engage the tubular members; upper guide clamping meansadapted to align the tubular members; a frame interconnecting said lowerclamping means, driving means and upper clamping means; and meansoperatively connecting with the driving means adapted to drive thetubular members downw-ardly. The invention also contemplates employingwashing means for flowing fluid down the tubular members and out thelower open ends thereof.

The invention also encompasses a method for installing offshorestructure comprising the steps ofk positioning initial sections of aplurality of horizontally spaced, vertically extending hollow tubularmembers adjacent the earth, driving said initial sections of tubularmembers into the earth simultaneously, attaching intermediate sectionsof a plurality of horizontally spaced, vertically extending hollowtubular members to said initial sections of tubular members, drivingsaid intermediate sections of tubular members downwardly until the lowerends of said initial sections of tubular members have reached a selectedor predetermined depth in the earth, attaching final sections of aplurality of horizontally spaced, vertically extending hollow tubularmembers to said intermediate sections of tubular members, said finalsections of tubular members being provided with interconnecting bracingmeans and then driving said nal sections of tubular members downwardlyuntil the lower ends of said llnal sections of tubular members arearranged adjacent the earth. The intermediate sections may be omitted ifthe initial sections reach the selected or predetermined depth. Also,the number of intermediate sections used will depend upon the depth ofpenetration desired,

While driving the tubular members downwardly lluid may be washed downthe interiors of the tubular members and out the lower ends of theinitial sections of tubular members in order to minimize the drivingeffort.

` Thus, anobject of this invention is to provide method 'vice andapparatus for setting multiple self-supporting tubular members.

This and other objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a vertical view of the apparatus of the invention positionedin one stage of the method of installation;

Figs. 2 t-hrough 8 are views similar to Fig. 1 illustrating subsequentstages of the method of installation;

Fig. 9 is a view taken on lines 9-9 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a view taken on lines 10-10 of Fig. 1;

Fig. l1 is a vertical view, partly in section, of a driv ing head andconnected apparatus;

Fig. 12 is a plan view of a spacer element; and

Fig. 13 is a vertical view of a driving means con-l nected to a drivinghead.

In Fig. l is shown a cluster of tubular members generally designated 10,the lower ends of which are posi tioned adjacent land 11 underlying abody of water, designated 12. A driving assembly, generally designated13, and including upper clamps 14, drive heads 15, and

-' lower clamps 16 connected together by means of frame- Work 17 isarranged adjacent the upper ends of the tubular members. Each of thedrive heads 15 is provided with a drive and wash flange 18. A sling 19connects driving y assembly 13 to a winch or other type hoisting means,not

ferentially spaced tubular members 31 through 36 -in,

clusive. Each of the tubular members has associated. therewith a drivehead 15 and a pair of upper clampsI 14 and a pair of lower clamps 16(Figs. l to 8). I

As seen in Fig. 2, a driving bar 21 is arranged in the clamps 14 whichare aligned with the center tubular. member 30. Driving bar 21 engagesthe drive flange 18 of the drive head 15 associated therewith and embracing tubular member 30. A reciprocating hammer, such as a steamhammer 22 or other suitable driving means :is connected to driving bar21. Hammer 22 is connected by means of cable 23 to a winch orothersuitable supporting and hoisting means, not shown.

Frame 17 includes horizontal braces 25 and vertical braces 26 whichserve to inter-connect the clamps and.t driving heads into a unit (Figs.l to 8). lIt will 'bet understood that although other structural bracingsuchv as diagonal bracing is desirable it has been omitted for reasonsof clarity. v

The drive head 15 associated with tubular member 30j I is seen moreclearly in Fig. l1 and, as shown, is cylin-v drically configured andformed to provide a shoulder 40.v adjacent the upper end thereof. Driveflange 18l is also cylindrically configured and formed to provide arecessed portion 42 and shoulders 43 and `44. A tubular mem-g ber suchas center tubular member 30 is arranged in the recess 42; shoulder 43engages with shoulder 40; andy shoulder 44 engages with the uppersurface of the drive head when the drive flange, drive head, andtubularmember are in operative position. Driving bar 21 engages theupper surface of drive flange 18. Drive -llange 18 is also formed toprovide a conduit'or passageway 45 "seal 46 is arranged on drive llange18'a'ndl is adapter?- to seal olf the annulus between drive ilange 18and the interior surface of the tubular member 30, as shown.

As seen more clearly in Fig. 10, clamps 16 are arranged in the sameconiiguration as drive heads 15. Any desired type clamps may be used.Essentially each clamp comprises semi-cylindrical members 5t), 51provided with pipe gripping surfaces, hinged as at 52 to the framework17 and adapted to be locked together by means of the bolt assembly 53.Upper clamps 1li are constructed the same as and are aligned with lowerclamps 16.

Spacer plate 20 is seen more clearly in Fig. 12 and as shown constitutesa circular plate provided with a plurality of openings 55 through whichthe tubular members are adapted to extend. The spacer plate 20 serves tokeep the lower ends of the tubular member aligned with and spaced thesame as the upper ends held in the driving assembly 13.

It is to be noted that clamps 14 and clamps 16 are shown' in verticallyaligned pairs. Although two sets or groups of clamps 14 and clamps 16are shown, any number may be used. Also, although the cluster of tubularmembers 10 is shown as in a pattern of 7, any number greater than onemay be used.

Instead of a pile driver, described supra, other type driving means maybe employed. For example, in Fig. 13 is shown a vibrator assembly 60secured directly to ange 18. The vibrator assembly 60 may be of the typewherein contra-rotating eccentric ily wheels are mounted in bearingsattached by springs to drive flange 18. Because the ily wheels arecontra-rotating, the horizontal components of the force exerted canceland the vertical forces add. The vibrating assembly 60 includes avariable speed electric motor or other variable speed power source.

For a detailed account of the operation of the invention reference ismade to Figs. 1 through 8. A cluster, designated 10, of seven tubularmembers (Fig. 9 and Fig. 10) of even lengths are assembled in drivingassembly 13 in a horizontal position either at the well situs or at ashore installation. The proper desired spacing between the lower ends oftubular members is maintained by means of a spacer plate 2li. Spacerplate 20 lmay be tack welded to one or more of the tubular members sothat it may be jarred loose and slide along the tubular members as theyare driven downwardly when the driving operation commences. Thesetubular members may constitute the lower sections of surface casings tobe installed. The individual tubular members may be welded together toform any desired length. In Fig. l'three lengths are shown. Sling 19 isthen secured to frame 17 and driving assembly 13 and attached tubularmembers then are picked up by means of the sling 19 and the hoistingmechanism and placed on bottom adjacent the earth 11 underlying water 12(Fig. l). Either before or after positioning of the tubular members onthe bottom, driving assembly 13 is manipulated to position driving heads15 adjacent the upper ends of the tubular members 30 through 36,inclusive. Lower clamps -16 are then clamped to the tubular members andthe driving anges y18 are arranged on the individual tubular members anddriving heads 15, as illustrated for a single tubular member in Fig. 11.Spacer plate 20 may be made sufficiently large so that it will remain atthe mud yline or earth line and serve as a guide for the initialsections of tubular members and for the sections that are to follow(Figs. l to 8).

Driving bar 21 is then positioned through the set of guides 14yassociated therewith to adjacent the top of the center drive flange 18.The cluster of tubular members 10 is driven downwardly until the upperends thereof are locatedV just above the water le-vel, as seen in Fig.2. To add new sections of casing or tubular members, drive flanges 18are removed from drive heads 15 yand the entire driving assembly islowered on the tubular members until the upper ends of these lowersections of tubular members protrude above drive heads 15. Clamps 16 arethen set on the tubularmembers and sling 19 is slacked off, as seen in.Fig. 3. New sections of even lengths of tubular members or casings 9 arethen placed through the upper clamps 14 until the new and the previouslyset tubular members 10 abut. These sections are then welded together, asindicated at 8 in Fig. 3.

Lower clamps 16 are then loosened and the driving assembly is raised tothe driving position as shown in Fig. 1; that is, it is raised untildrive heads 15 are positioned adjacent the upper ends of the newsections of tubular members or casings 9. Drive anges 18 are thenreplaced onto the driving heads 15 and tubular members. Driving bar 21and pile driver 22 are then repositioned to engage driving bar 21 andcenter drive flange 18, as seen in Fig. 4.

The driving bar and hammer then are actuated to drive the tubularmembers downwardly to a new position, wherein driving assembly 13 isagain located just above water level as seen in Fig. 5. This operationis repeated with new sections of tubular members until a predeterminedpenetration is reached. Then before driving assembly 13 is removed, thetubular members last added are braced by supports or struts 70. Thisbracing is made in order to insure that the upper ends of the tubularmembers maintain proper positioning. Hammer 22 and attached driving bar21 are then removed. Flanges 18 and driving assembly 13 are also removedand an entire section of pre-braced tubular members or casings 75 isthen joined to the uppermost tubular members 9 as `seen in Fig. 6. Guideor alignment sleeves 76 are provided on the lower ends of tubularmembers 75 in order to facilitate positioning of tubular members 75 ontotubular members 9. Any desired type of alignment device mayl be used tofacilitate alignment of the new sections of tubular members 75 with theuppermost of the previously driven tubular members. The two sections oftubular members are then welded together. Additional bracing such as 70(Fig. 7) may then be added if desired. The upper ends of the tubularmembers 75 are free of bracing in order to permit resetting of drivingassembly 13. The braced section 75 is of predetermined :length in orderto provide bracing for the tubular members from the earth 11 to abovesea level (Fig. 8). As seen in Fig. 7,

driving assembly 13 then is replaced on the braced cluster.

of tubular members 75, drive flanges 18 are replaced and pile driver 22and driving bar 21 are repositioned on the center drive flange. Thetubular members are then driven deeper into the subsurface and, as seenin Fig. 8, afterV reaching a predetermined depth, a drilling or workoverplatform 80 is positioned on the uppermost cluster ofv tubular members.

During the driving operations, uid such as water, drilling mud, tair,etc. from a suitable source is injected through conduits 41 andpassageways 45 in the drive anges 18 to the interior of the tubularmembers. The injection of the fluid into the interiors of the tubularmembers provides a washing or lubricating effect as the fluid passes outthe lower ends of the tubular members and up their outer sides orsurfaces. The lubricating effect is calculated to be sucient to makeonly a minimum driving effort necessary and yet to cause only a minimumdisturbance of the sediments into which the tubular members are forced.

Platform structure 8G may be used as the main drilling.

structure or the platform may be employed for servicing the variouswells provided by the cluster of casings. Thus, with respect to thedrilling of sulphur wells, .for example, the platform may be constructedon the cluster of surface casings, which platform may be used forsupporting the hot water and air and sulphur manifolds for miningservice. v

In the event that the multiple tubular members are. unable to penetrateto the desired depth inY unison, drive` flanges 18 are removed and theunitary driving assembly slipped down until the tops of the tubularmembers protrude well above it. Then an individual driving assembly anda driving flange are installed on each of the individual tubularmembers, other than the one or ones first driven to refusal whenoperating in unison, and each tubular member is washed and driven orvibrated to a final depth. In this type of operation, the last bracedsection of tubular members may be welded to the upper ends of thepreviously driven tubular members; however, the cluster of tubularmembers should be driven no deeper thereafter. Alternatively, the finalor last braced section may be provided with tubular members sufficientlylarge to slip over the tubular sections already driven.

By telescoping the tubular members in this manner a double-leg effectfrom the m-ud line upward is obtained.

Although driving bar 21 and hammer 22 are shown and described herein asbeing applied to the center driving head 15 connected to center tubularmember 30, this apparatus may be connected to any one or more of theheads 15.

Having fully described the method, apparatus, and objects of myinvention, I claim:

1. Apparatus for setting a plurality of spaced-apart tubular memberscomprising a driving assembly including upper and lower sets of clampmeans and a set of drive heads arranged therebetween; each of said upperand lower. sets of clamp means comprising a plurality of horizontallyspaced clamps, said set of drive heads comprising a plurality ofhorizontally spaced drive heads; said upper set of clamp means, saidse-t of drive heads and said lower set of clamp means being arranged invertically spaced relationship; each clamp of said upper set of clampmeans being vertically aligned with a drive head of said set of driveheads and a clamp of said lower set of clamp means; each of said lowerclamps being adapted to grip separately a different tubular member, eachof said drive heads being adapted to be positioned upon a differenttubular member `and each of said upper clamps being ad-apted to alignseparately a different tubular member; a frame interconnecting saidupper and lower sets of clamp means and said set of drive heads, a driveflange arranged on each of said drive heads, a driving bar arranged onat least one of said drive anges whereby driving means may be applied tosaid driving bar for driving said tubular members downwardly, each ofsaid drive flanges being formed to provide a passage adapted to fluidlycommunicate the interior of said tubular member and the exterior of saiddrive head, and means connected to said drive flanges adapted totransmit fluid to said passages.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim l wherein said driving bar extendsthrough one of said upper clamps.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein the upper and lower sets ofclamp means are comprised of a central clamp and a plurality ofcircumferential clamps secured to the central clamp by means of radialmembers.

4. Apparatus for setting a plurality of spaced-apart tubular memberscomprising a driving assembly including a set of clamp means and a setof drive heads; said set of clamp means comprising a plurality ofhorizontally spaced clamps and said set of drive heads comprising aplurality of horizontally spaced drive heads; each clamp being invertically spaced relationship below and aligned with one of said driveheads; bracing means interconnecting said set of clamp means and saidset of drive heads; said clamps being adapted to grip said tubularmembers and said drive heads being adapted to be positioned upon saidtubular members; and a drive ange arranged on each of said driving headswhereby driving means may be applied to at least one of said drivingheads for driving said tubular members downwardly; each of said driveflanges being provided with a passage adapted to uidly communicate theinterior of said tubular member and the exterior of said drive head; andmeans connected to said drive anges adapted to transmitnuid .to saidpassages. y

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said set of clamp means iscomprised of a central clampvand a plurality of circumferential clampssecured to the central clamp by means of radial members.

6. Apparatus for setting a plurality of spaced-apart tubular memberscomprising a driving assembly including a plurality of lower clampingmeans adapted to clamp onto said tubular members; a plurality of drivingheads arranged above said lower clamping means adapted to be positionedupon the upper ends of said tubular members; a plurality of upperclamping means arranged above said drive heads; said upper and lowerclamping means and said driving heads being vertically aligned; bracingmeans interconnecting said upper and lower clamping means and saiddriving heads; said upper clamping means being adapted to guide saidtubular members, a driving bar extending through atleast one of saidupper clamping means and connecting with said driving head alignedtherewith whereby driving means may be applied to said driving bar fordriving said tubular members downwardly simultaneously, said driving barresting on the driving head vertically aligned therewith 7. Apparatusfor setting a plurality of spaced-apart tubular members comprising adriving assembly including a plurality of clamping means horizontallyspaced from each other and a plurality of drive heads also horizontallyspaced from each other; each drive head being aligned with and arrangedabove one of said clamps; bracing means interconnecting said clamps anddrive heads, said clamps being adapted to clamp separately each of said.tubular members and said drive heads being adapted to be positioned uponsaid tubular members whereby driving means may be applied-to at leastone of said drive heads for driving said tubular members downwardlysimultaneously.

8. A method for installing an offshore struc-ture. utilizing a drivingassembly including spaced-apart guide means, drive means, and clampingmeans, said guide means comprising a plurality of spaced-apart guides,said drive means comprising a plurality of spaced-apart drive heads andsaid clamping means comprising a plurality of.

spaced-apart clamps, each guide being aligned with a drive head and `aclamp comprising inserting a tubular member of a first section oftubular membersin each clamp and drive head aligned therewith, clampingeach clamp to the tubular member extending therethrough,then`positioning the other end of each of said first section of tubularmembers adjacent the earth such that the tubular members are spacedsubstantially horizontally from each other and extend substantiallyvertically from the earth to above the water, said guide means beingabove said drive means and said drive means being above said clampingmeans, driving said first set of tubular members into the earthsimultaneously while maintaining said horizontal spacing between thetubular members, releasing said clamping means, lowering said drivingassembly on said first set of tubular members until the uppermost endsof said tubular members are positioned between the clamping means anddrive means, positioning a tubular member of a second set of tubularmembers through each guide, attaching each of said second section oftubular members to the tubular member of the first section of tubularmembers aligned therewith, raising said driving assembly to positionsaid drive means adjacent the uppermost ends of said second section oftubular members, clamping said driving assembly to said second sectionof tubular members, driving said iirst and said second sections oftubular members downwardly simultaneously while maintaining thehorizontal spacing between the tubular members, releasing the clampingmeans and removing the driving assembly from said second set of tubularmembers, attaching a tubular member of a third section of tubularmembers to each one of said second section of tubular members whilemain- 7 taining by bracing means the horizontal spacing between'thevupper ends of veach of said tubular members ofthe second section oftubular members, the third section of tubular members being providedwith interconnecting spacing means, repositioning said driving assemblyon said third section of tubular members so that the driving heads arealigned with the uppermost ends of the third section of tubular members,clamping said driving assembly to said 4third section of tubular memberssuch that the drive means is positioned adjacent the uppermost end ofsaid third section of tubular members and then driving said tirst,second, and third sections of tubular members downwardly until the lowerend of the braced portion of said third section of tubular members isarranged adjacent the earth underlying the water.

v9. A method as recited in claim 8 including the step of attaching aplatform to the upper ends of the third section of tubular membersfollowing the step of driving the tubular members downwardly until thelower end of the braced portion of the third section of tubular membersis arranged adjacent the earth underlying the water.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 including flowing into the upper endsof each of said uppermost tubular members and out the lower ends of eachof said lowermost tubular members to provide a lubricating effect duringthe driving steps.

11. A method for installing a drilling site utilizing a driving assemblyincluding spaced-apart drive means and clamping means, said clampingmeans comprising a plurality of spaced-apart clamps, said drive meanscomprising a plurality of spaced-apart drive heads, each clamp beingaligned with a drive head comprising inserting a tubular member of airst section of tubular members in each clamp and drive head alignedtherewith, clamping each clamp to the tubular member extendingtherethrough, then positioning the other end of each tubular memberadjacent the earth such that the tubular members are spacedsubstantially horizontally from each other and extend substantiallyvertically from the earth to above the water, said drive means beingabove said clamping means, driving each tubular member of the rstsection of tubular members into the earth simultaneously whilemaintaining the horizontal spacing between the tubular members,releasing the clamping means, lowering said driving assembly until theuppermost ends of said tubular members extend above said 3 t driveheads, kattaching a tubular member of a second section of tubularmembers to `a-tubular'member of said irst section of tubular members,raising the driving assembly until-the drive means is arranged at theuppermost ends of the tubular members of the second section of tubularmembers, clamping the driving -assembly to the second section of tubularmembers, driving said first and second sections. of tubular membersdownwardly simultaneously while maintaining the horizontal spacingbetween the tubular members, releasing the clamping means and removingthe driving assembly, attaching a tubular member of a ythird section oftubular members to each one of said second section of tubular members,the third section of tubular members being provided with interconnectingbracing means, attaching the driving assembly to the third section oftubular members adjacent the upper ends thereof, and then driving theiirst, second and third `sections of tubular members downwardly untilthe lower end of the braced portion of the tubular members is arrangedadjacent the earth underlying the water.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 including the step of attaching aplatform to the upper ends of the third section of tubular members afterdriving said tubular members downwardly until the lower end of thebraced portion of -the third section of tubular members is arrangedadjacent the earth underlying the water.

13. A method as recited in claim l2 including flowing tiuid into theupper ends of the uppermost tubular members and out the lower ends ofthe lowermost tubular members during the driving steps.

14. A method as recited in claim 13 including telescoping said thirdsection of tubular members over said second sections of tubular membersto obtain a double-leg effect from the earth upwardly.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS696,480 Pierce Apr. l, 1902 1,366,460 Howell Jan. 25, 1921 2,354,936Bignell Aug. l, 1944 2,429,952 Willey Oct. 28, 1947 2,531,983 McCoy NOV.28, 1950 2,589,146 Samuelson Mar. l1, 1952 2,651,181 Alcorn Sept. 8,1953 2,775,869 Pointer Jan. 1. 1957

